Roles of naofen, a novel WD-repeat-2 protein, in the CCl4-treated livers--a possible relationship to cell proliferation

Naofen (GenBank accession no. EF613262), a newly found intracellular protein in the WD-repeat-2 protein family, has been cloned as an anti-verotoxin II antibody immunoreactive substance, and the nucleotide- and amino acid-sequences have been clarified. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the roles of naofen especially in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4-induced cirrhosis model of rats, also in partial hepatectomy. Naofen mRNA expressions were observed from the early phases of cirrhosis development and during regenerative phases after partial hepatectomy, more remarkable in the former. Naofen immunoreactive fragments located in the vascular endothelial cells and peri-vascular spaces in normal livers especially in Glisson's areas, being strongly stained in the connective tissues 8 weeks after starting CCl4-injections, besides in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes in pseudo-lobules. In contrast, partial hepatectomy caused a small increase of naofen expressions in the whole hepatocytes, and significantly in the endothelial cells of portal veins and hepatic arterioles. Furthermore, in parallel to the degree of naofen mRNA and protein expressions, the rates of double-nuclei cells to total hepatocytes in the Glisson's areas increased in both cirrhosis and partial hepatectomy, suggesting a relationship between naofen expression and mitosis. In in-vitro studies with cell lines, vascular endothelial growth factor, a cell proliferation stimulant, increased the naofen mRNA expressions in HepG(2) cell lines, whereas paclitaxel, a cytotoxic anti-cancer drug, diminished them in NRK52E, both concentration-dependently. These results indicated that naofen immunoreactive fragments play an important role in the cell proliferation, relevant for analyzing the regenerative phases during cirrhosis developments and after partial hepatectomy.

Immunohistochemical Study for Monoamine Neurons in the Brain of Unilateral Inner Ear Impaired Rats

Patients with inner ear impairment have complaints of vertigo and also occasionally depression. The present study was undertaken in order to evaluate changes in monoamines which have reportedly been closely related to depression, using cisplatin-induced unilateral inner-ear impaired rats. A dose of 0.5 mg/kg of cisplatin was injected into the right tympanic cavity under pentobarbital Na+ anesthesia. One or two weeks later, animals were fixed with paraformaldehyde, and thereafter immunohistochemical stainings for monoamine-containing cells in the brain were carried out. To visualize 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), noradrenaline (NA) and dopamine (DA) neurons, we used mouse antibodies against 5-HT, NA, and DA syntheses, i.e., tryptophan hydroxylase (TRH), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH). The number of TRH immunoreactive neurons significantly decreased in the lateral dorsal raphe nucleus of the ipsilateral side when compared with the contralateral side. The number of DA neurons, which were immunoreactive to TH, but not to DBH, significantly decreased in the hypothalamus of the ipsilateral side. The number of NA neurons which were immunoreactive to both TH and DBH significantly decreased in the locus coeruleus and ventral lateral pons of the ipsilateral side. An additional control study with saline-injected rats showed a lack of differences in monoamine syntheses between the injected and contralateral sides, the expressions of the synthesis on both sides being similar to that obtained in the contralateral side in cisplatin-injected rats. These results indicated the decreases in monoamine syntheses at the ipsilateral side only in the cisplatin-administered rats. We conclude that inner ear impairment may diminish the ipsilateral amount of monoamines in the brain but not the cotralateral, possibly inducing a vestibular compensation such as an upregulation of monoamine receptors.

Inhibition of fibrin-induced neurogenic pulmonary edema by previous unilateral left-vagotomy correlates with increased levels of brain nitric oxide synthase in the nucleus tractus solitarii of rats

In the course of investigations on mechanisms underlying development of neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE), we have evaluated effects of nitric oxide (NO) in the central nervous system on incidence and severity in the fibrin-induced pulmonary edema model. Rats left-unilaterally vagotomized 1, 2 and 4 weeks before injections of fibrinogen and thrombin into the cisterna magna, after cutting the right vagus nerve, grouped as LVIW, LV2W or LV4W, respectively. The brain NO synthase (NOS) mRNA level in the left medulla oblongata was elevated in the LV2W group, compared to the control, but decreased in the LV4W rats. Incidences of pulmonary edema were 100% in the control group, decreasing to 78% in LV1W group, 17% in LV2W group, and back to 72% in LV4W group. The lung water ratio, a parameter of severity, demonstrated a similar pattern of change as the incidence. The lowered incidence and severity obtained in the LV2W group were reversed by intracisternal injection of N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). From these results, we propose that an increase in nitric oxide, possibly in the nucleus tractus solitarius 2 weeks after left vagotomy, may have an inhibitory action on the development of neurogenic pulmonary edema in rats.

Role of central nervous system nitric oxide in the development of neurogenic pulmonary edema in rats

OBJECTIVE

The present study was undertaken to evaluate roles of nitric oxide in the central nervous system in the development of neurogenic pulmonary edema. Nitric oxide donor compounds have been reported to be effective for controlling some kinds of pulmonary edema.

DESIGN

Randomized trial.

SETTING

Experimental university pharmacology laboratory.

SUBJECTS

Wistar rats anesthetized with pentobarbital.

INTERVENTIONS

Neurogenic pulmonary edema was induced by injections of fibrinogen and thrombin into the cisterna magna. Physiologic roles of nitric oxide were evaluated by using NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) or l-arginine (a nitric oxide donor compound). Vagus nerves were either left intact or bilaterally severed 20 mins before the injections of fibrinogen and thrombin.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Because enhanced sympathetic nerve activity mediates neurogenic pulmonary edema, the concentration of neuropeptide Y, a neurotransmitter, in edema fluid was measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To evaluate the severity of pulmonary edema and pulmonary vascular permeability, lung water content and protein concentration in edema fluid were analyzed. In rats with intact vagus nerves, injection of NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester into the cisterna magna worsened the pulmonary edema, whereas l-arginine had no effect. In contrast, in vagotomized rats, l-arginine abrogated pulmonary edema, whereas NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester exerted no influence. Likewise, the ratio of edema fluid protein to serum protein and the neuropeptide Y concentration were increased by NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester in rats with the vagus nerves intact and were diminished by l-arginine in vagotomized rats.

CONCLUSIONS

Neurogenic pulmonary edema is characterized by elevated pulmonary vascular permeability and may be inhibited by nitric oxide production in the medulla oblongata.

[Heterotransplantation of the SO-Rb50 cell line into athymic "nude" mice]

Suspension of the SO-Rb50 cell line of human retinoblastoma was injected into the anterior chamber of the right eye and the dorso-cervical subcutaneous tissue each of 7 athymic "nude" mice separately. Intraocular transplanted tumors resulted in all 7 mice of the first group while subcutaneous transplanted tumor occurred only in 1 mouse of the second group. The clinical, pathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of the transplanted tumors were similar to those of human Rb. The proptosis of the tumor eyes, the variation in tumor cell differentiation and the significance of animal models were discussed.

[Clinical and histopathological analysis of ocular lymphocytic inflammatory pseudotumors]

44 cases (56 eyes of 29 males and 15 females) of lymphocytic inflammatory pseudotumor were analysed. The average age of onset was 40.6 years. The chief manifestations consisted of orbital mass, proptosis, edema of the eyelids and bulbar conjunctiva, and limited eyeball motility. ESR was accelerated in 11 of 13 patients tested. Seral antibody of EB virus was positive in 2 of 3 patients examined. Immunohistochemically, all 3 patients examined showed polyclonality. A diffuse lymphocytic infiltration with other inflammatory cells and fibrovascular proliferation was the basic pathological picture. Histopathologically, the disease was classified into the diffuse infiltrative, fibrotic, and mixed types. The pathogenesis, the significance of immunohistochemical examinations, and treatment were discussed.

[Manifestations of fluorescein angiography in choroidal melanoma]

This paper reported on the manifestations of fundus fluorescein angiography in 21 patients with choroidal melanoma. According to the findings of fluorescein angiography, we suggest that this disease can be classified into 3 types: type I shows hyperfluorescent mottles (12 cases); type II shows hyperfluorescent spots and patches, (4 cases); type III shows a dark area in the tumor body, (5 cases). The angiographic characteristics of the three types of melanoma and their histopathologic changes are discussed. The differential diagnosis of the three types of melanoma from metastatic choroidal carcinoma, senile macular degeneration with subretinal hemorrhage and choroidal hemangiomas is discussed. For the first time choroid melanoma has been classified into 3 types according to fluorescein angiography. It may contribute to the early diagnosis of this disease.